Opel to revive Calibra coupe, GM Europe chief Nick Reilly confirms
By Steph, 01 Dec, 2010. 0 Comments
Opel GTC Concept
Opel/Vauxhall will design a successor to the Calibra, a two-door that was very popular in the 1990s. Recently, Ford announced that the Capri will be revived as a Focus-based coupé, making it a highly exciting year indeed for the carmaker. GM Europe chief Nick Reilly, who is also the overall boss of Vauxhall and Opel, has the last word on what gets the go signal for production. In an interview with Auto Express, Reilly simply said, “I believe we should have one, so we will have one.” Reilly said that the inspiration is the GTC (Gran Turismo Concept) coupé displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007, saying that it will be “exactly this type of car.” He said that the concept has gone on to become the Insignia, which is anticipated to become the basis for the new sports machine.
The GTC had been equipped with a 2.8-litre V6 turbo and the VXR version of the production car could build on the 320bhp of the hottest Insignia to produce a lower-priced version of Audi’s S5 coupé. But the smaller, mainly turbocharged units will provide a more attractive combination of economy and power as they are powered by Vauxhall’s upcoming range of all-new, direct-injection petrol engines.
Reilly believes that these will provide economy savings of “at least 10 to 15%.” Over 250,000 units of the Calibra were sold before it was phased out in 1997. Reilly said that just like before, the top-spec version of the four-seater will probably feature four-wheel drive. He also disclosed that Vauxhall intends to use the Ampera name as a sub-brand for its expansion of several range-extended battery vehicles. He said that Vauxhall is considering other bodystyles, which include a smaller Astra-sized car and a larger one.
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